Is it safe to open MacBook Pro with swollen battery?

It’s currently 2024 and the battery of my Macbook pro mid 2015 has started to become swollen, is it safe to open it up without the battery exploding in my face or leaking fluid onto important parts?


I am looking to open it up and see if i can get my Hard Drive out so my data is safe.


Note: The battery was replaced when Apple called back for the batteries since they had something wrong with them.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]


MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 12.7

Posted on Mar 14, 2024 8:31 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 14, 2024 8:03 PM

What is your goal with this SSD? To keep it to access the data on it or to continue using the SSD, or to destroy the data stored on it?


This laptop uses a proprietary Apple SSD connector, so you will need to use another identical Mac to utilize the SSD, or you will need to get an OWC Envoy Pro Enclosure assuming you want to access the data on the SSD and assuming this is an original Apple OEM SSD.


If your goal is just to destroy the data on the SSD, then you can do so much more easily by booting to a macOS installer (online or USB) and just perform a simple erase of the physical SSD which will destroy all data on the SSD because it will cause a TRIM event which will clear all the empty NAND memory cells on the SSD.



If you are going to remove the SSD, then I suggest you first run the battery down to 20% or less to reduce the chances of fire if the battery is accidentally punctured. You can do this by running "mprime" which will be located in the extracted folder....if you only have the downloaded ".zip" file, then first extract its contents by double-clicking on it. After downloading "mprime", you will need to right-click or Control-click on the "mprime" app within the "p95xxxxxxx" folder and select "Open". You should be given a pop-up alerting you this app is from an unidentified developer and ask you if it is Ok to run it. If you are not presented with the option to allow an exception to run the utility, then you will need to repeat the process of right-clicking or Control-clicking on the "mprime" file again and selecting "Open". Sometimes it just takes two attempts to get the proper prompt to allow the utility to run.


It should open a new Terminal window with "mprime" running. It will be asking you whether you want to join Gimps or "just stress testing". Type "N" followed by pressing the "Return" key to submit a "no" response. For the rest of the questions configuring the stress test you can just accept the default values by pressing the "Return" key for each one. The only setting you should change from the default is the one regarding the "type of torture test" so that it uses the most power so it drains the battery the fastest (usually test# 2). Once you accept all settings, mprime will work all the CPUs to their maximum (or nearly maximum) so that within about an hour or two, the battery will become discharged. You can abort the stress test by pressing Control + C while the "mprime" window of the Terminal app has focus.


The battery mylar covering is fairly sturdy so as long as you don't puncture it or press on it, the battery will be fine. As long as the battery charge is below 20%, it should prevent the battery from having a thermal runaway if the battery is punctured.


Make sure to disconnect the battery from the Logic Board before you try to remove the SSD.


Keep in mind that once you remove the Bottom Case, you will not be able to reinstall it (at least not completely) due to the expanded battery so you will have an exposed battery which you must protect so not to accidentally puncture it.


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2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 14, 2024 8:03 PM in response to soeradj224

What is your goal with this SSD? To keep it to access the data on it or to continue using the SSD, or to destroy the data stored on it?


This laptop uses a proprietary Apple SSD connector, so you will need to use another identical Mac to utilize the SSD, or you will need to get an OWC Envoy Pro Enclosure assuming you want to access the data on the SSD and assuming this is an original Apple OEM SSD.


If your goal is just to destroy the data on the SSD, then you can do so much more easily by booting to a macOS installer (online or USB) and just perform a simple erase of the physical SSD which will destroy all data on the SSD because it will cause a TRIM event which will clear all the empty NAND memory cells on the SSD.



If you are going to remove the SSD, then I suggest you first run the battery down to 20% or less to reduce the chances of fire if the battery is accidentally punctured. You can do this by running "mprime" which will be located in the extracted folder....if you only have the downloaded ".zip" file, then first extract its contents by double-clicking on it. After downloading "mprime", you will need to right-click or Control-click on the "mprime" app within the "p95xxxxxxx" folder and select "Open". You should be given a pop-up alerting you this app is from an unidentified developer and ask you if it is Ok to run it. If you are not presented with the option to allow an exception to run the utility, then you will need to repeat the process of right-clicking or Control-clicking on the "mprime" file again and selecting "Open". Sometimes it just takes two attempts to get the proper prompt to allow the utility to run.


It should open a new Terminal window with "mprime" running. It will be asking you whether you want to join Gimps or "just stress testing". Type "N" followed by pressing the "Return" key to submit a "no" response. For the rest of the questions configuring the stress test you can just accept the default values by pressing the "Return" key for each one. The only setting you should change from the default is the one regarding the "type of torture test" so that it uses the most power so it drains the battery the fastest (usually test# 2). Once you accept all settings, mprime will work all the CPUs to their maximum (or nearly maximum) so that within about an hour or two, the battery will become discharged. You can abort the stress test by pressing Control + C while the "mprime" window of the Terminal app has focus.


The battery mylar covering is fairly sturdy so as long as you don't puncture it or press on it, the battery will be fine. As long as the battery charge is below 20%, it should prevent the battery from having a thermal runaway if the battery is punctured.


Make sure to disconnect the battery from the Logic Board before you try to remove the SSD.


Keep in mind that once you remove the Bottom Case, you will not be able to reinstall it (at least not completely) due to the expanded battery so you will have an exposed battery which you must protect so not to accidentally puncture it.


Mar 14, 2024 8:39 PM in response to soeradj224

soeradj224 wrote:

I am looking to open it up and see if i can get my Hard Drive out so my data is safe.


When you say "safe" – in what way?


Are you saying that you want to get the SSD out to keep other people from getting any data that might be on it?


Or are you saying that your data is not backed up, and that you are trying to get the SSD out to recover the data from it?

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Is it safe to open MacBook Pro with swollen battery?

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